Joshua Pacio submits Pongsiri Mitsatit. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
In one of the most creative finishes the promotion has seen, Joshua Pacio employed a unique submission hold and forced Pongsiri Mitsatit to tap out in the first round of their strawweight fight in the ONE: Reign of Kings Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
After securing the full mount earlier in the fight, Pacio had Mitsatit’s back and tried to pull the Thai fighter’s left arm all the way to his nape.
Mitsatit eventually tapped out 3:37 into the fight.
“I feel awesome, I cannot express my feeling fighting in front of these people,” said Pacio, who is a member of the famed Team Lakay stable. “I think I’ll call it the ‘Passion Lock.’ I tried that once in the gym and I thought it will be best if I try it here.”
This is Pacio’s third straight win, bumping his record to 12-2 while Mitsatit (9-1) saw his nine-fight winning streak get snapped.
Rene Catalan throws a strike. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Earlier in the preliminary card, Filipino strawweight Rene Catalan scored a unanimous decision win over Indonesia’s Stefer Rahardian.
Catalan peppered Rahardian with strikes with the Indonesian managing to survive the fight by clinching.
It’s now Catalan’s fifth straight win as he improves to 5-2 while Rahardian fell to 8-1.